Tender Hearts (Joel/reader)

Chapter 1(TW⚠️)

Y/N POV:

Before.

My heart raced as I walked through the Millers front door, being greeted to the sound of laughter and forks clicking against plates.

"Good morning Y/N." Sarah sang at me

"Morning." Joel grunted at me with a smile

I was used to his gruffness and sarcastic remarks, being neighbors with them, I grew up hearing them being yelled at my dad for driving to fast through the neighborhood while being drunk or just being an asshole in general. They were never on good terms, especially with my dad being a bigot and racist.

"Morning." I sighed sitting down

Joel eyed me from across the table, his brown eyes suspicious of me. Even though he was ok with Sarah being so close to me, he was still on guard about me also.

My mom was the neighborhood slut and my dad was the wife beater whenever he found out about her little side activities. Both of them being drunks and drug users didn't help my case, it only added to people giving me the side eye and little comments about how I hopefully won't turn out like that. I even got shit in school fit for it, last year getting the shit knocked outta me by a girl older than me because her dad slept with my mom and broke up her family when her mom found out. I had a busted lip and a fractured cheekbone by the time she was done and my mom didn't even bat an eyelash.

"Everything ok?" He kept chewing as he asked

"Peachy keen." I struggled to smile

"Sarah, go get your things ready for school." She gave him an egg filled smile and ran up the stairs

"Now tell the truth." He commanded, sipping his coffee

"Dad's outta jail and I'm terrified." I spit out

He nodded, picking up more eggs on his fork. Everyone around here also knew that when my dad was raging and my mom was beat down, he wasn't afraid to take a swing at his own kid to get his frustrations and anger out, but no one ever stepped in. Not even Joel or Tommy. I figured they wanted to but didn't want to at the same time, it not being their business and all.

"Well, if it gets too bad, you know you're welcome here." He nodded at me

"Thanks, I know you're not my biggest fan, probably don't even really like me, but it means a lot." I was nothing if not honest with the man

He looked sorta surprised by my words.

"I like you just fine, it's your parents I have an issue with." He finally managed to say to me

I just nodded and grabbed my back pack from beside my leg and stood up as Sarah came rushing down.

"So, can we can out after school?" She asked me

"I don't see why not." I smiled at her

Despite the age gap, Sarah and I had come to be great friends, hanging out with each other while her dad worked and my parents did whatever they want. We stuck together like glue and my father wasn't exactly happy about that. He hated that she was interracial and called her and Joel many cruel names and slurs, being downright cruel to Sarah when he'd see her, like she asked to be born. I know I sure as fuck didn't.

"Would you help me with math? I suck at it." Sarah grumbled

"Obviously." I snickered

She lightly punched my shoulder and climbed into the truck and I climbed in beside her, thankful that Tommy would always be willing to drop me off. He had "accidentally" slept with my mom one night and was worried it would cause a strain between me and the Millers, especially after my dad found out and clocked him. It never caused problems but I could tell he still tried to make up for it.